WACO, Texas - Three Baylor track and field student-athletes earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI honors as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Thursday. Seniors Erin Bedell and Chris Gowell each earned first-team honors, making them eligible for Academic All-America honors, while sophomore Diamond Richardson earned second-team honors.

To be eligible for Academic All-District status, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a 4.00 scale and have reached sophomore standing both academically and athletically.

Bedell, a senior health science studies major from Plano, Texas, earned all-District VI honors for the second consecutive season after being named to the second team in 2009. This season, Bedell adds to her list of accomplishments after earning Big 12 all-academic honors in both track and field and cross country, as well as Big 12 Commissioner's honor roll and Baylor dean's list status.

In competition, Bedell has been equally as impressive, leading the Baylor women to their seventh consecutive NCAA Cross Country Championships appearance, while earning all-Big 12 and all-region honors. In track and field, Bedell earned all-Big 12 accolades both indoors and outdoors, claiming a top-eight finish in the indoor 3,000 meters, the indoor distance medley relay and the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Gowell, a graduate student in his senior year of eligibility, is a health education major from Newport, South Wales, United Kingdom. Earning academic all-Big 12 honors earlier this year, Gowell is being honored by CoSIDA for the first time in his career. He was also named to the Big 12 Commissioner's honor roll and Baylor dean's list. On the track, Gowell entered the season as a two-time All-American, and will have a chance to add to that total at this season's NCAA Outdoor Championships from June 9-12 in the 800 meters.

During the indoor season, Gowell led the men's distance medley relay team to a Big 12 championship and a school record in the event, while also placing second in the Big 12 in the 1,000 meters and qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 800 before being sidelined with an injury. Outdoors, Gowell has regained his form, earning a runner-up finish in the Big 12 800 meters, as well as a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships after placing seventh in the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds.

Richardson, a sophomore journalism major from DeSoto, Texas, maintains a 4.0 GPA and earned her first all-District honor. With the highest GPA on the track and field team, Richardson also earned academic all-Big 12, Big 12 commissioner's honor roll, and Baylor dean's list honors.

On the track, Richardson earned all-Big 12 honors in the 400 meters and 4x400-meter relay both indoors and outdoors, while earning a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400 and 4x100-meter relay. She placed eighth overall in the 400, then filled in for an injured Tiana Hood in the 4x100 relay, helping them to their best time of the season of 44.50 and a national qualification.

Baylor's track and field team will be back in action with Gowell and Richardson among the 16 entries in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., from June 9-12 at the University of Oregon's Historic Hayward Field.